COSAFA Senior Challenge 2008

2008 COSAFA Senior Challenge
Number of nations	14 (8 finalists)
South African champions	South Africa
venue	South Africa
opening	July 26, 2008
Endgame	August 3, 2008
Gates	39
Top scorer	Phillip Zialor , 4 goals

The twelfth edition of the COSAFA Cup took place for the first time in 2008 under its new name COSAFA Senior Challenge from July 26th to August 3rd, 2008 in South Africa . Eight teams from South Africa played for the title of South African champion. South Africa won its third title. The preliminary round took place in South Africa from July 19 to 24.

Angola competed with a U-20 national team. South Africa decided on a "Development XI" team. The games of both teams were therefore not included in the FIFA world rankings .

Game mode

The 6 of the 14 participating countries, which had the highest positions in the FIFA world rankings in April 2008, were automatically qualified for the final tournament. This applied to: Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The remaining eight participants played against each other in two groups, four teams each. The winners of the group matches qualified for the tournament. The final round was played in the knockout system.

Preliminary round / qualification

Group A

Group A games will be held from July 19-23 , 2008 at the Atlantic Stadium in eMalahleni , South Africa.

Pl.	country	Sp.	S.	U	N	Gates	Diff.	Points
1.	Madagascar	3	2	1	0	004: 300	+1	07th
2.	Swaziland	3	1	2	0	003: 200	+1	05
3.	Seychelles	3	1	1	1	008: 200	+6	04th
4th	Mauritius	3	0	1	2	002:100	−8	01

July 19, 2008
Madagascar	-	Swaziland	1: 1 (0: 1)
July 19, 2008
Mauritius	-	Seychelles	0: 7
July 21, 2008
Madagascar	-	Seychelles	1: 1 (1: 0)
July 21, 2008
Mauritius	-	Swaziland	1: 1 (1: 0)
July 23, 2008
Madagascar	-	Mauritius	2: 1
July 23, 2008
Seychelles	-	Swaziland	0: 1

Group B

Group B games took place from July 20 to 24, 2007 at the Lilian Ngoyi Stadium in Secunda , South Africa .

Pl.	country	Sp.	S.	U	N	Gates	Diff.	Points
1.	Namibia	3	2	1	0	005: 100	+4	07th
2.	Malawi	3	2	0	1	002: 100	+1	06th
3.	Lesotho	3	1	1	1	002: 200	± 0	04th
4th	Comoros	3	0	0	3	000: 500	−5	00

July 20, 2008
Comoros	-	Namibia	0: 3 (0: 1)
July 20, 2008
Lesotho	-	Malawi	0: 1
July 22, 2008
Comoros	-	Malawi	0: 1
July 22, 2008
Lesotho	-	Namibia	1: 1
July 24, 2008
Comoros	-	Lesotho	0: 1
July 24, 2008
Malawi	-	Namibia	0: 1

Finals

Quarter finals

The quarter-finals took place in the Atlantic Stadium in eMalahleni on July 26th and in the Lilian Ngoyi Stadium in Secunda on July 27th.

July 26, 2008
Angola	-	Madagascar	0: 1
July 26, 2008
South Africa	-	Namibia	1-0
July 27, 2008
Botswana	-	Mozambique	0: 2
July 27, 2008
Zambia	-	Zimbabwe	0: 0, 5: 4 i. E.

Semifinals

The semi-finals took place at Thulamahashe Stadium in Bushbuckridge .

July 30, 2008
Madagascar	-	Mozambique	1: 2
July 30, 2008
South Africa	-	Zambia	1-0

3rd place match

The third place match took place on August 3 at Thulamahashe Stadium in Bushbuckridge .

August 3, 2008
Madagascar	-	Zambia	0: 2

final

pairing	South Africa - Mozambique
Result	2: 1 (1: 0)
date	August 3, 2008
Stadion	Thulamahashe Stadium , Bushbuckridge
referee	Mbongkosi Fakudze (Swaziland)
Gates	1-0 Marcelino Franch (18th), 2-0 Marcelino Franch (60th), 2-1 Txuma (89th)
South Africa	Jacob Mokhasi - Mzondi Mthomben , Rooi Mohamutsa , Ramahlwe Mphahlele , Thapelo Tshilo , Mashiane Phadu , Lefa Tsutsulupa ( Thulane Ngcepe ), Bridget Motha , Mark McVeigh , Marcelino Franch ( Lethola Mofokeng ), Petrus Mahlatsi ( Klaas Galane ) Coach: Serame Letsoaka
Mozambique	Marcelino - Campira , Faife ( Txuma ), Whiskey , Mexer , Carlitos ( Rudy ), Danito , Momed Hagi , Edgar , Josimar ( Alvariuto ), Tico-Tico Trainer: Mart Nooij

Web links

• Official website (archived)